• The Importance of Photo Editing for Real Estate Sales
• Top 6 Most Trendy Photo Edits for Real Estate Photography
• Ensure Competitive Listing Photos With PhotoUp

The quality of a listing’s images can make or break a sale. In fact, studies show that properties with professional, high-quality images receive 118% more views and sell 32% faster than those with poor or unedited photos.

Real estate photo editing plays a crucial role in enhancing property images, making them more appealing to potential buyers. 

In this article, we’ll share the importance of real estate photo editing to stand out from the crowd in a competitive market and show you some of the most trendy edits for this year.

Let’s begin by discussing the importance of real estate photo editing.

The Importance of Photo Editing for Real Estate Sales 

By leveraging advanced editing techniques, real estate photographers and agents can highlight the best features of a home, correct imperfections, and create visually stunning images that stand out in a crowded marketplace.

Here are 5 reasons why editing your real estate photography is crucial in today’s highly competitive market:

1. Creates a Lasting First Impression

Since most homebuyers begin their search online, high-quality images can immediately capture their attention. 

Eye-catching photos help listings stand out, encouraging potential buyers to explore the property further.

For example, using a twilight image as the listing’s main photo averages 76% more views than listings without the use of twilight images.

2. Highlights a Property’s Best Features

Professional photo editing enhances architectural details, improves lighting, and showcases the space in the best possible way. 

Features like spacious kitchens, hardwood floors, and scenic views can be emphasized to attract buyers.

3. Builds Buyer Confidence

Well-edited images provide buyers with a clear and realistic representation of the property. 

This transparency helps buyers feel more confident about their purchase, reducing uncertainty and increasing inquiries.

4. Saves Time and Resources

Rather than staging a home multiple times or reshooting images due to poor lighting, real estate photo editing allows for quick and effective improvements. 

Editing can fix color imbalances, remove unwanted objects, and even replace gloomy skies with vibrant sunsets.

5. Increases Property Value Perception

A beautifully edited photo makes a property look more valuable. According to recent studies, it can increase the price per square foot by 47%.

When buyers see polished, high-quality images, they are more likely to perceive the home as well-maintained and worth the asking price.

Now that you know why it’s crucial to edit your real estate photography, let’s take a look at some of the trendiest edits for this year.

Have You Ever Thought To

Outsource Photo Editing?

Try it today with 5 free edits from three professional photo editors.

Try PhotoUp Learn More

Top 6 Most Trendy Photo Edits for Real Estate Photography

As technology advances, real estate photo editing continues to evolve, incorporating innovative techniques that make property listings more immersive and engaging. 

Here are the top 6 real estate photo editing trends in 2025 that will help your listing images stand out in a competitive market:

1. Photo-Realistic Virtual Staging

AI Virtual staging has become a game-changer for real estate marketing, allowing empty rooms to be digitally furnished with realistic furniture and decor. 

In 2025, virtual staging is more photo-realistic than ever, making it nearly impossible to distinguish from actual furniture.

Example: A vacant living room can be virtually staged with modern sofas, area rugs, and decor, helping potential buyers visualize the space’s potential. 

Virtual staging eliminates the need for costly physical staging and provides buyers with multiple design options. Virtual staging is actually up to 97% cheaper than traditional home staging.

2. AI-Powered Photo Editing

Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing real estate photo editing by automating tedious tasks and enhancing images with precision. 

AI-powered tools like AgentUp AI Editing can instantly adjust brightness, correct white balance, remove shadows, replace skies, and even declutter rooms by erasing unwanted objects.

Example: AI editing software can remove distracting furniture, correct lens distortions, and enhance image sharpness within seconds, drastically reducing editing time for photographers.

3. Sky Replacements for Perfect Outdoor Shots

Outdoor photography is often affected by unpredictable weather conditions. 

Sky replacement technology allows photographers to swap out dull, overcast skies for bright blue skies or breathtaking sunsets, ensuring every listing looks its best regardless of the weather.

Example: A cloudy sky can be replaced with a vibrant sunset to create a warm, inviting ambiance, making the home appear more attractive to potential buyers.

4. Twilight Editing for Stunning Evening Shots

Twilight images are highly effective in making property listings stand out. However, scheduling a twilight photoshoot can be challenging. 

Twilight editing techniques digitally transform daytime shots into stunning evening images with glowing lights and colorful skies.

Example: A standard daytime exterior shot can be edited into a twilight image with warm interior lights and a captivating sunset sky, creating an elegant and luxurious feel.

5. Drone Photo Editing for Aerial Views

Drone photography is now a staple in real estate marketing, providing stunning aerial views of properties and their surroundings. 

Editing drone images ensures enhanced clarity, vibrant colors, and optimal framing to showcase expansive landscapes and amenities.

Example: Aerial shots of a property can be enhanced by adjusting exposure, sharpening details, and removing unwanted shadows, making the home and its surroundings more visually appealing.

6. Interactive Virtual House Tours

With the rise of digital property marketing, interactive virtual house tours are becoming an essential tool for real estate professionals. 

Listings with virtual tours receive 87% more views compared to those with only photos, as they provide an interactive experience that allows buyers to explore properties remotely.

Virtual tour editing enhances 360-degree images, corrects lighting inconsistencies, and stitches together seamless walkthroughs.

Example: A 3D virtual tour of a luxury home can be edited to include clear navigation points, improved lighting, and sharper details, giving potential buyers a fully immersive experience.

With these cutting-edge photo editing techniques, real estate professionals can create visually compelling listings that captivate buyers, enhance property appeal, and stay ahead in an increasingly competitive market.

Let’s present a solution that can help you create captivating visuals while saving time and money – outsourcing your post-processing to PhotoUp. 

Have You Ever Thought To

Outsource Photo Editing?

Try it today with 5 free edits from three professional photo editors.

Try PhotoUp Learn More

Ensure Competitive Listing Photos With PhotoUp

With the increasing demand for high-quality real estate images, photographers and agents need a reliable editing service that delivers top-notch results while saving them time and money. 

PhotoUp is a highly trusted brand that offers professional real estate photo editing services that enhance images and elevate property listings.

Except for the above-listed edits, PhotoUp also offers editing services such as:

• Exposure and color correction
• Advanced object removal
• Perspective correction
• Noise reduction and image sharpening
• Lawn greening and landscape enhancement
• HDR editing
• Manual blending
• Panorama stitching
• Flambient editing
• And much more!

We can help with any type of editing no matter how small or large or complex.

Why Choose PhotoUp?

Here are some reasons why you should consider outsourcing your editing to PhotoUp: 

✔ Affordable Pricing – Starting at just $1.50 per image for on-demand editing, PhotoUp provides budget-friendly editing solutions for real estate professionals.

✔ Fast Turnaround Times – Get professionally edited images back in less than 24 hours, ensuring quick and efficient marketing.

✔ Advanced Editing Techniques – From virtual staging and sky replacements to twilight conversions and HDR blending, PhotoUp offers a wide range of editing services tailored to real estate photography.

✔ User-Friendly Platform – Easily upload images, manage orders, and provide feedback through PhotoUp’s intuitive online system.

✔ Dedicated Support – PhotoUp’s team of expert editors and customer service professionals ensure high-quality results and personalized service.

✔ Access to Dedicated Editing – With a Dedicated Editor, you get access to an editor or team of editors who is 100% dedicated to your business and learn your style. This ensures maximum image consistency which can help you improve your brand.  

Wait! There are more reasons to choose PhotoUp…

Real Estate Marketing Ecosystem

Furthermore, PhotoUp has built an entire ecosystem around real estate photography. We also offer other powerful marketing services like:

• AI Virtual staging
• Virtual house tours
• Single property websites
• And Property flyers

We have everything you need to enhance and market real estate photography in one user-friendly software!

How to Get Started

If you’re wondering how to get started with PhotoUp, it’s super easy!

Here’s all you need to do:

Step 1. Sign up for a free PhotoUp account.

Step 2. Upload your photos to our easy-to-use software.

Step 3. Choose the level of editing that you need and provide instructions (optional).

Step 4. Wait for PhotoUp professional editors to edit and return the photos in less than 24 hours (48 hours for virtual staging).

Step 5. Download and start using your beautifully edited photos.

PhotoUp Real Estate Photo Editing Uploader

To see how easy it is to get started with PhotoUp, check out our real estate photo editing uploader tutorial:

It’s really as simple as 1-2-3!

With PhotoUp’s expert editing and marketing services, photographers and agents can focus on their core business while ensuring their images are polished to perfection. 

So sign up for a free PhotoUp account and elevate your real estate marketing with stunning, high-quality photos that drive engagement and sales!

For a limited time, you’ll receive a bonus of 10 free credits you can use on any of our services when signing up for an account. 

We hope this blog post helped you realize why real estate photo editing matters in a competitive market. Before you go, you may also want to check out the following resources:

• Best Real Estate Photo Editing Companies of 2026
• 9 Proven Exterior Real Estate Photo Editing Techniques
• The #1 Edit to Create Stunning Real Estate Photos
• How to Replicate Professional Real Estate Photo Editing (10 Expert Tips)
• Professional Real Estate Photo Editing Can Help Improve Your Brand: Here’s How!

In this article, we’ll explore the top 10 key trends shaping real estate photography this year. We’ll also cover a solution that can help you stay up to date with these trends and grow your business.

Let’s dive in!

Top 10 Real Estate Photography Trends in 2026

Here are the 10 key trends you need to know to stay ahead of the competition in 2026: 

1. AI-Powered Editing Tools

Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing photo editing, allowing real estate photographers to enhance images faster and more accurately. 

AI tools like AgentUp AI Editing can perform tasks like sky replacement, AI virtual staging, and HDR blending with just a few clicks, streamlining workflows and saving time.

Why It Matters:

• Faster turnaround times for edited photos
• Consistent, high-quality results
• Easier access to advanced editing for photographers of all skill levels

Agents are already utilizing AI tools to help them make their everyday work easier, so don’t be left behind. Recent studies show that 85% of real estate agents now report using AI regularly in their business.

2. Virtual Staging and Augmented Reality (AR)

AI Virtual staging continues to gain traction, offering cost-effective and flexible ways to showcase empty properties. 

Augmented reality is also emerging as a powerful tool, enabling buyers to visualize furniture placement and design elements in real time.

Key Benefits:

• Increased buyer engagement – buyers can imagine themselves living in the home
• Enhanced property appeal for online listings
• Reduced staging costs – virtual staging is up to 97% cheaper than traditional staging

Virtual staging is a fantastic tool to help potential buyers see the home’s full potential while also saving money on staging.

3. Aerial Photography and Videography

Drones remain a game-changer for real estate photography. Recent studies show that aerial photos help sell properties up to 68% faster.

Aerial shots and videos provide a unique perspective of properties, showcasing lot sizes, neighborhood features, and landscaping. 

Why It’s Trending:

• Ideal for luxury and large properties
• Captures details that traditional photography cannot
• Creates dramatic and visually appealing content – drone photography can increase engagement by 83%

In 2026, drone technology is becoming more affordable and accessible, and is something any real estate photographer should add to their toolkit. 

4. Day-to-Dusk Conversions

Day-to-dusk or twilight editing is gaining popularity as a cost-effective way to create stunning twilight shots without scheduling an actual twilight shoot. 

Using a twilight image as the listing’s main photo averaged 76% more views than listings without the use of twilight images.

Benefits Include:

• Increased online listing clicks and engagement
• Enhanced property aesthetics
• Greater flexibility for photographers since they don’t have to depend on weather conditions or time of day for the photoshoot 

Overall, twilight images highlight a property’s ambiance and lighting features, attracting more online viewers.

5. Interactive Virtual Tours

Interactive virtual tours are becoming a staple in real estate marketing. By 2026, virtual tours and 360-degree imagery will become the industry standard, giving buyers a chance to explore properties remotely.

With advancements in 3D camera technology, creating immersive tours has never been easier. Buyers can explore properties remotely, boosting convenience and engagement. 

In fact, listings with virtual tours close 31% faster than those not using a tour. Virtual tours can even help to sell a listing sight unseen.

What’s New:

• Higher-quality 3D imagery
• Integration with AR for enhanced experiences
• Broader adoption by smaller agencies and independent sellers

The Real Estate Photography

Business Systems You Need

PhotoUp is the ultimate real estate photographer business platform.

Join PhotoUp Learn More

6. Sustainability in Photography

As sustainability becomes a priority across industries, real estate photographers are adopting eco-friendly practices. 

From energy-efficient lighting to digital-only workflows, the focus is on reducing environmental impact.

How Photographers Are Adapting:

• Using rechargeable batteries and LED lighting
• Transitioning to paperless contracts and invoicing
• Leveraging cloud storage to reduce physical waste
• Relying more on online portfolios rather than booklets 

7. Mobile Photography With Pro-Level Tools

Smartphone cameras are becoming increasingly sophisticated, enabling photographers to capture professional-quality images on the go. 

Paired with portable AI editing apps, mobile photography is a viable option for quick shoots and smaller projects.

Advantages:

• Greater accessibility for agents and small businesses
• Reduced equipment costs
• Faster photo delivery

8. Personalized Branding in Real Estate Photography Builds Trust

Real estate photographers are increasingly focusing on branding their services to stand out in a competitive market. 

Customized watermarks, branded social media posts, and personalized marketing strategies are becoming essential.

Why It Matters:

• Builds trust and recognition
• Helps photographers differentiate themselves
• Attracts long-term clients

9. Focus on Human-Centric Storytelling

Rather than just highlighting the property’s features, photographers are emphasizing storytelling. 

Capturing lifestyle elements—like cozy reading nooks or bustling kitchens—helps buyers emotionally connect with the property.

An increasingly popular tool for storytelling is single property websites, where agents can upload anything from comprehensive property descriptions and digital flyers to images, walkthrough videos, and 360 tours. They can also brand themselves with a profile photo and contact information.

Impact:

• Creates a stronger emotional appeal
• Highlights the property’s potential as a home
• Aligns with modern marketing trends
• Increases website traffic and views

10. Outsourcing Real Estate Photo Editing

With increasing demand for high-quality visuals, outsourcing real estate photo editing is becoming more common. 

Services like PhotoUp offer fast, affordable, and professional editing solutions, allowing photographers to focus on capturing the perfect shots.

Benefits:

• Saves time and resources, you can use on shooting more properties
• Ensures professional-grade results all the time
• Boosts your brand as a photographer
• Scales with business growth

With a dedicated photo editor who learns your unique style, you will get maximum image consistency and faster turnaround times. Depending on your editing style and batch, prices can go as low as $0.50 per image.

Final Thoughts

In summary, the real estate photography landscape in 2026 is defined by innovation and adaptability. 

By embracing these trends, photographers and real estate professionals can stay ahead of the curve, attract more buyers, and close deals faster. 

Whether it’s leveraging AI tools, adopting sustainable practices, or exploring new ways to tell a property’s story, staying updated is key to success in this dynamic industry.

The Ultimate All-in-One

Real Estate Photographer Business Platform

Grow a successful real estate photography business with PhotoUp.

Join PhotoUp Learn More

Need Help With Real Estate Photo Editing & Marketing?

If you need help with real estate photo editing or marketing, PhotoUp has got you covered!

PhotoUp is a trusted brand in the real estate photo editing industry that has been featured on some of the most well-respected real estate photography blogs/podcasts like the PFRE and Shooting Spaces.

We offer professional real estate photo editing and other marketing services to help photographers and agents sell more listings.

When it comes to editing, our expert team can assist with the following:

• HDR blending
• Twilight and day-to-dusk conversions
• Advanced object removal and decluttering
• Perspective correction
• Sky replacements
• Brightness and color correction
• Noise reduction and image sharpening
• Lawn enhancements
• Pano stitching
• And much more! 

Our talented team can handle any editing need—big or small, simple or complex. 

Plus, our affordable pricing starts at just $1.50 per image for on-demand editing, with bulk discounts available. Dedicated editing can go as low as $0.50 per image, depending on your style and editing batch.

A Complete Real Estate Marketing Partner

In addition to photo editing, we also provide powerful real estate marketing tools such as:

• AI Virtual staging
• Virtual house tours
• Single property websites
• Property flyers

You can find everything you need to enhance and market real estate photography in one user-friendly software. 

How to Get Started

Getting started with PhotoUp is super easy! This is how to do it:

Step 1. Sign up for a free PhotoUp account.

Step 2. Upload your photos to our easy-to-use software.

Step 3. Choose the level of editing that you need and provide instructions (optional).

Step 4. Wait for PhotoUp professional editors to edit and return the photos in less than 24 hours (48 hours for virtual staging).

Step 5. Download and start using your beautifully edited photos.

PhotoUp Real Estate Photo Editing Uploader

Watch how easy it is to get started with PhotoUp in our real estate photo editing uploader tutorial:

As simple as that!

So what are you waiting for?

Sign up for a free PhotoUp account today and start growing your business at record speed with us!

Plus, when you sign up for an account, you’ll receive a bonus of 10 free credits to use however you please. 

We hope this blog gave you insights into the new real estate photography trends for 2026. Before you go, you may also want to check out the following resources:

• The Secret Weapon of the Gray Card in Real Estate Photography
• How to Remove Lens Flare in Photoshop
• How to Make Background Transparent in Photoshop
• 5+ Best Photo Editing Programs for Real Estate Photographers
• Best Real Estate Photo Editing Companies of 2026

The real estate market is always changing, and with each passing year, new trends emerge that help agents and sellers maximize their property’s appeal. As technology advances, so too do the trends in real estate photography. 

In this post, we’ll cover 8 of the latest and hottest real estate photography trends in 2026 to help you figure out where you should focus your time and effort so that you can grow your business at rocket speed.

Alright, let’s dive in!

8 Hot Real Estate Photography Trends in 2026

With digital photography and editing tools, the visual representation of a property is a constantly evolving element of the industry.

Buyers expect a certain quality of photos when they search for homes, so you need to make sure your photography measures up.

In 2026, these are the hot real estate photography trends you can expect to see.

1. Digital Real Estate Marketing Tools

In 2021, 97% of home buyers used the Internet to search for homes and expected to see quality photos and videos.

It is, therefore, more important than ever to not only deliver great listing images but also expand your services to make marketing even easier for your real estate clients.

Realtors and agents are relying more and more on digital tools for their marketing, and you can help them and, at the same time, grow your photography business by adapting the new trends listed in the blog post.

For example, you can offer your clients beautiful single property websites, virtual house tours, real estate walk through videos, or virtual staging to help them sell a listing faster. More about this later…

Remember to also be active on social media or use email marketing to boost engagement and stay up-to-date with the digital trends that will continue in 2026. If anything, this will help you get more leads and grow your real estate photography business faster.

The Ultimate All-in-One

Real Estate Photographer Business Platform

Grow a successful real estate photography business with PhotoUp.

Join PhotoUp Learn More

2. Drone Photography 

Drone photography is becoming increasingly popular in real estate photography, as it provides an aerial view of the property.

Photographers no longer need the kind of budget that would allow you to rent a helicopter to get aerial shots of a property. 

Nowadays, sophisticated drones can be equipped with hi-def cameras and sent over a property to gather both beautiful videos and stills of the property from above.

Drone photography is great for showing off a property’s unique features, such as its landscaping and architecture. 

Furthermore, drone photography can capture unique angles and perspectives, making it ideal for showcasing large properties, which will be a must for real estate marketing in 2026.

3. 360-Degree Photography or Virtual Tours

Chances are that buying a home is probably the biggest purchase most people will make in their lives. Sometimes, looking at photos online isn’t enough, and prospective buyers want to get a feel of the space.

360-degree photography or virtual tours are a great way for buyers to get a better sense of a property’s layout and features. Recent studies show that the virtual tour market is expected to reach $6.5 billion during the forecast period at a 31% CAGR. 

This type of photography will become increasingly popular in 2026. What makes it so great is that it allows buyers to virtually “walk” through a property without ever having to step foot in it.

Virtual house tours help give buyers an accurate understanding of the layout, as well as the size of the rooms, and can even lead to properties being bought site unseen. 

Photographers who can capture 3D images and video are going to be in demand as buyers get used to this new reality.

4. The Mobile-First World Remains

Statistics show that the first point of contact for most consumers is via a mobile device.

In most cases, that’s their primary device for accessing the internet. This means that their first impression of your property will most likely be on a mobile screen. 

That being the case, photographers need to shoot, edit, and deliver content with that fact in mind. It’s also vital that any images you deliver are optimized for mobile devices.

That means making sure your images load quickly on mobile devices. And that they can adjust to fit all different screen sizes and operating systems.

In other words, you need to strike the perfect balance where images can load and display quickly without sacrificing quality.

But the biggest danger with mobile is that it’s so easy for consumers to get distracted and quickly move on to the next listing, photo, or app. 

So, if your images aren’t eye-catching, chances are you’re losing the interest of a potential buyer without even knowing it.

Quick & Easy

AI Virtual Staging

Interiors. Landscapes. Commercial. Virtually transform any space.

Try AI Virtual Staging Learn More

5. Virtual Staging

Staging a room with just the right furniture and lighting for viewing is one of the most time-consuming and expensive parts of a Realtor’s job. 

Virtual staging is one of the hottest trends in real estate even in 2026 (partly as a result of the pandemic), as it offers agents and sellers the chance to furnish and showcase a vacant or outdated room online.

Best of all, they can skip all the hassle and save money on expensive furniture and decor.

Smart photographers are using virtual staging companies where real interior designers transform shots of empty rooms into glamorous, stylish living spaces that pique the interest of buyers. 

Besides, the service is quick and affordable.

It’s a no-brainer for realtors operating in a digital-first environment who need to make their properties stand out from the crowd.

6. HDR Photography (High Dynamic Range) 

Next, HDR photography is a great way to show off a property’s features and make it look more appealing. This technique is achieved by combining several photographs (most often 3) at different exposure settings. 

This produces an image that looks more vibrant, with greater detail and depth. In other words, it’ll help your real estate photography pop.

Don't Try One, Try Three

Freelance Photo Editors

Try editing from 3 professional photo editors. Screened and ready-to-hire.

Try 3 Editors Learn More

7. High-Resolution Photos

High-resolution photos are a must in real estate photography, as they provide buyers with a crystal-clear view of the property.

Often, high-quality real estate photography will decide whether someone takes the next step to schedule a physical viewing or passes on a property.

It also lets agents zoom in on details, allowing prospective buyers to get a better understanding of the property. 

8. Vertical Real Estate Images

Another trend for real estate photography in 2026 is an increase in the use of vertical photos. This could be due to the increasing use of mobile phones and the growing popularity of platforms like Instagram and Pinterest, which favor vertical images.

Vertical photos are simply photos in portrait orientation with an aspect ratio tailored to fit the mobile phone screen. They can often provide a more comprehensive view of a property than horizontal photos can. 

Not to forget, it’s also easier for mobile phone users to view vertical photos. Agents and Realtors will need more vertical images and videos as a result, and they will likely request these services from real estate photographers in the coming year.

High-Quality & Consistent

Real Estate Photo Editing

Hire a dedicated editor with performance metrics from $7/hour.

Try 5 Free Edits Learn More

Conclusion

As technology advances, so too do the trends in real estate photography. In 2026, these are the hot real estate photography trends you can expect to see.

Augmented reality, drone photography, 360-degree photography, HDR photography, virtual staging, and virtual tours are all becoming increasingly popular as they provide buyers with a more immersive experience when viewing a property.

This provides a great opportunity for you to learn new skills, find new revenue streams, and generate more income than ever before.

PhotoUp Has All the Tools You Need Under One Roof!

To be able to keep up with image quality and the new photography trends in 2026, you should consider hiring a real estate marketing service like PhotoUp.

We offer an array of services like:

• Dedicated and distributed real estate photo editing
• AI Virtual staging
• Single property websites
• Property flyers
• Virtual house tours
• And more.

To recap, you’ll not only save valuable time by hiring a professional real estate photo editing service to help you enhance your photos and make them picture-perfect (*pun intended), but you can also grow your photography business by offering additional services to your clients.

Sign up for a free PhotoUp today, and find out how we can help evolve your business and make you even more valuable to your clients.

For a limited time, we even offer 5 free edits when you sign up!

We hope this blog post helped you discover the latest real estate photography trends in 2026. If you enjoyed reading this post, make sure to check out the following resources as well:

• How to Start a Career in the Real Estate Photography Business (in 2026)
• Adding More Services to Your Real Estate Photography Business
• How to Virtually Stage a Room in Less Than 5 Minutes
• Ways Real Estate Photography Outsourcing Can Help Grow Your Business
• 3 Reasons Why Virtual Staging Is a No-Brainer for Real Estate Photographers

Let’s take a look at 6 important trends a real estate photographer must take into account in 2018 and beyond.

1. Real estate buyers are searching listings and real estate services online more than ever before

The days of checking out listings from magazines or newspapers are numbered. Those who want to buy properties or need someone to take photos of their listings are looking to the internet first. In fact, Google and the National Association of Realtors (NAR) made a joint study titled “The Digital House Hunt: Consumer and Market Trends in Real Estate,” which showed some important revelations:

• 90% of buyers searched the web for properties
• Google reported an increase of 253% on real estate related searches over the past four years (2013 to 2017)
• Local search terms were important for buyers

Why is this important
With the players of the real industry taking on the web, it is vital for you to have a strong and attractive online presence. Your photography website should be well organized, filled with high-quality photos, and contains engaging content. Our partner, FolioWebsites, can help you design stunning, effective websites.

Support your site with effective search engine optimization (SEO) and social media marketing strategies.

2. Players in the real estate industry are increasingly using mobile devices

Real estate photographers, agents, sellers, and buyers are always on the move. Thus, they update themselves on the industry, search for listings, and transact business using convenient mobile devices. Indeed, the world is going mobile; and based on Google’s findings, people are using their phones, tablets, and notebooks more than desktops.

In a study by the NAR, 56% of Millenials and 46% of Gen X’ers find their homes, look for directions, communicate with their agent, and more using their mobile devices.

Why is this important
Your photography website should be mobile responsive. That means your site can be displayed in a readable, navigable format for a mobile device’s screen. On the other hand, a non-responsive site is difficult to navigate, and readers will simply give up trying to decipher the content or go from one page to another.

Check out this article about must-have features for your website, which includes mobile responsiveness.

3. Virtual staging is a must have

One of the most important stages of shooting a property is staging. This involves preparing and enhancing a property to prepare it for sale in the real estate marketplace. The objective staging is to make the property more appealing to potential buyers. A beautifully staged home can sell more quickly and for more money.

Well-arranged furniture, beautiful lights, and interesting decors make the space more appealing. Unfortunately, many listings come are sold after the seller has already left, leaving the home empty. This is difficult for buyers to visualize what the home will actually look like when someone is actually living there. Sellers hesitate to spend on property staging as it’s quite expensive to rent, repair, or even buy furnishings just to make the empty space look lively. Just to give you an idea, home staging costs anywhere from $500 to $600 per room and around $1,000 to $6,000 for the entire house. Those rates sometimes exclude consultation fees.

Virtual staging is an up-and-coming solution to fill images of empty properties with superimposed, realistically rendered 3D furnishings and decor. This new technology allows photographers (and realtors) time and money. It also helps buyers plan, design, personalize, and envision the space before purchasing and furnishing the home.

Quick & Easy

AI Virtual Staging

Interiors. Landscapes. Commercial. Virtually transform any space.

Try AI Virtual Staging Learn More

Virtual staging is cheaper, and it yields the same (or often better) results than actual staging. You don’t have to choose, haul, clean, and do all the labor-intensive activities; the virtual stager can do all those and more using sophisticated graphics programs.

Why is this important
Using the power of software and graphics to fill up the property will definitely save photographers and property sellers time, money, and effort. However, make sure you get a professional virtual staging specialist to render realistic-looking furniture. Improperly done, the furnishings can look comically fake.

PhotoUp now offers virtual staging at 25 credits per page. If you are interested in PhotoUp’s virtual staging service, feel free to reach out to support@photoup.net for more information.

4. Partnerships between photographers and real estate databases are flourishing

Real estate databases such as Zillow are offering mutually beneficial partnerships with real estate photographers. After submitting the requirements and passing some quality checks, the photographer becomes Zillow certified.

Why is this important
Being one of the biggest real estate databases in the US, Zillow has massive traffic. By being a Zillow-certified photographer, you can market your business to Zillow’s real estate agents, enhance your portfolio, attract more clients, and more.

Recently, PhotoUp partnered with Zillow. Our partnership allows Zillow-certified photographers to enjoy hefty discounts, $1.00 credits, and more.

5. Promote real-estate related services through social media

In a 2017 study done by NAR, 80% of the players of the real estate industry use Facebook to promote and advertise their services as well as interact with buyers. Others use platforms such as LinkedIn, Google, YouTube, and more.

Why is this important
Social media has become the fastest, cheapest, most far-reaching, and most effective way for real estate photographers to get their message out. Many platforms also have functionalities such as sharing options and instant-messaging tools that allow you to interact with prospects and clients in real-time.

An effective social media marketing campaign, coupled with SEO, is definitely essential in promoting your real estate photography business.

6. Photographers are starting to use drones to take awesome aerial photos

Drones offer unique perspectives and possibilities in real estate photography. You can capture amazing aerial images and videos of a property. Encompassing views of the land surrounding the property can be captured easily and cheaply. Additionally, if you are a skilled pilot, you can take videos of interiors, creating a short real estate marketing video.

Why is this important
Being a relatively new technology, drones definitely have that “cool factor”. You can add another type of photography service to your tool belt and upsell your clients who are looking for the latest and greatest in real estate photography. Adding a drone to your real estate photography arsenal is another way to help differentiate you from your local competition.

Want to engage in aerial photos of residential and commercial properties? Drones can be a valuable and critical asset to any real estate photographer’s toolbelt. Check out these top drones for real estate photography that you can include in your equipment.

More Than Industry Leading

Real Estate Photo Editing

PhotoUp is the end-to-end business platform for real estate photographers.

Join PhotoUp Learn More

7. Photographers are outsourcing the editing aspect of their work

The work of a real estate photographer does not stop after the shoot. Once home from a shoot, you still need to edit your chosen images before sending them off to your client. Editing takes a great deal of time, so much so that you may end up losing time with friends, family, or continuing to grow your business.

Professional editors can help you by editing your photos for you. It’s all about shooting more, editing less, and spending more time doing what you love.

Why is this important
Outsourcing photo editing lets you enjoy a whole lot of benefits. By letting them edit your photos, you save time, money, and effort. You can focus more on shooting more photos, looking for new clients, and devising strategies to scale your business.

PhotoUp, a leader in real estate photo editing, has an entire team of professional photo editors who can enhance your real estate images the way you want them. We are here to help real estate photographers shoot more, edit less, and spend more time doing what they love.

2018 is going to be another big, exciting, and productive year for real estate photography. These trends should signal exciting opportunities ahead! Keep an eye on these trends, and take them into account when planning your business goals and activities for 2018 and beyond. By capitalizing on these new trends, you will be able to take your photography business to the next level.

Sources:

What Are the Important Current Trends in Real Estate Marketing

7 Actionable Mobile Marketing Trends for Real Estate Agents

3 Trends in Real Estate Photography And Why You Should Care

The Digital House Hunt: Current and Market Trends in Real Estate

Building for Next Moment

Real Estate in a Digital Age

Homebuyers Are Going Mobile: Is Your Website Ready?

Top 5 Smartphone Apps for Real Estate Photography

9 Ways Drones are Changing Real Estate

Zillow

PhotoUp and Zillow Partnership

How Much Does Home Staging Cost